What? Am I skulking along?Alwyn straightened up.
“Ah, Mr Sliger — I beg your pardon. I was lost in thought.” He slackened his pace but a little. “What’s this wonderful news of yours?”
“Oh, but are you alright? You look as if you’re carrying the weight of the world in your satchel.”
Knowing well that he had never excelled in pretense, Alwyn would not deny his upset, but he also would not explain the breadth of it.
“Forgive me. I’ve just left a patient’s home. Her feet are useless, swollen with gout, but perhaps worse is her isolation. She has only one person living with her, and that a hired companion.”
“Hmm.” Sliger was somber as they strode along. “There is much to be pitied there.”
“Yes, and seeing her brought to mind my own aunt, living alone since my father’s passing. She’s far off so I can rarely call on her myself.”
They were nearing Dr Felix’s doorstep.
“No room for her in your garret at the Bull, ay?” Sliger’s joke brought a smile to Alwyn’s face.
“No, certainly not. I would like to get a companion for her—”
Oh, he mustn’t know that I currently have the funds to do such a thing.
“—once I am a doctor, earning a living.”
“And when will that be?”
“I sit for my exam at the end of the month.”
“So soon? Puke and pustules!” Sliger grinned. “I can only imagine how wonderful that must be! I’ve yet to even start my apprenticeship. Oh, but as formynews! You won’t believe it!”
“Go on, then,” Alwyn urged, getting the key from his coat as they went up the front steps to Felix’s door.
But no delightful tale was then relayed, for at that moment, a carriage stopped in the street, and a footman jumped down from its footboard.
No, Loughley didnotsomehow follow me here,Alwyn reassured himself, after his initial jolt of dread. This carriage has a black top, and there is no crest on its door
Bounding up the steps, the footman asked, “Is this the home of Dr Archibald Felix?”
“Yes.”
“My master’s been struck down, and my mistress is all a-dither.” The tall, young man bounced uneasily on the balls of his feet. “She begs the doctor come to Hertford Street at once.”
Alwyn opened his mouth to explain where Felix was and offer his own services, but a wisp of doubt made him pause.
Felix left me in charge of a very specific list of patients. He said nothing of me presenting myself as his proxy in new cases.
The worry lines in the footman’s brow grew deeper. “Won’t you come and put my mistress at ease?”
A man needs medical attention,Alwyn told himself firmly.That, I can give him.
He dropped the key back into his pocket, and stepped towards the awaiting carriage. Darting over, the servant swung its door wide to receive him.
I’m answering my first emergent call.Alwyn took a steadying breath, but as he settled his satchel on the seat, he realized he was not alone.And Sliger means to squire me?
While he pondered the boy’s presumption, the driver cracked his whip, and they lurched into quick motion.
“May I tell you my news now?”
“Erm…yes. What has happened?”
